The road stretched out ahead of them like a dark ribbon through the fog, leading away from Blackwater City and into the forested hills that surrounded it. Elara watched the city lights fade into the distance, her mind racing with questions about what would happen next. The evidence was safe on the secure server, but getting it to her contacts would be impossible as long as Thorne was hunting them.
"Where exactly are we going?" she asked again, breaking the silence that had settled between them since they'd left the hotel.
Kael kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the steering wheel. "My grandfather's cabin. It's about two hours from the city, hidden in the woods. No one knows it exists except me—and now you."
Elara nodded, leaning back in her seat. The SUV was quiet and smooth, even on the winding mountain roads. She'd never been this far from Blackwater before, and the darkness of the forest pressing in on either side of the road made her feel both safe and isolated.
They drove for another hour before Kael turned off onto a narrow dirt track that wasn't marked on any map. The road was rough, and the SUV bounced and jolted as it wound its way through the trees. Finally, they emerged into a small clearing where a wooden cabin stood nestled between two large pines.
It was exactly what she'd expect from Kael's grandfather—solid and sturdy, with a stone chimney and a wrap-around porch that looked out over a valley below. Smoke rose from the chimney, and Elara realized with surprise that someone had been there recently.
"Did you have someone prepare this place?" she asked as Kael parked the car.
"I come here sometimes when I need to get away." He opened the door and climbed out, moving stiffly—his shoulder wound was clearly bothering him. "I keep it stocked with food and supplies. We'll be safe here for a few days at least."
Elara followed him up the porch steps, her breath catching as she took in the view. The valley below was covered in a blanket of fog, and in the distance, she could see the faint outline of mountains. It was peaceful here—so different from the city they'd left behind.
Kael unlocked the door and pushed it open, flipping on a light switch that filled the cabin with warm yellow light. The interior was simple but comfortable—wooden floors, a large stone fireplace, and furniture that looked like it had been there for decades.
"Make yourself at home," he said, heading for the kitchen. "I'll make us some coffee. There's a bathroom down the hall if you want to clean up."
Elara washed her face and hands in the bathroom sink, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, her dress was wrinkled, and there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek. She looked like she'd been running for her life—which she had.
When she returned to the main room, Kael had already made coffee and was sitting in a large armchair by the fireplace, his shirt off again as he checked his bandage. The fire crackled and popped, casting dancing shadows across the walls.
"Let me look at that," Elara said, moving toward him.
"It's fine," he started to say, but she gave him a look that made him fall silent. She sat down beside him and carefully peeled off the old bandage. The wound was red and angry, but it didn't look infected.
"You need to rest," she said, cleaning it again with antiseptic before applying a fresh bandage. "You pushed yourself too hard tonight."
Kael said nothing, but she could feel his gaze on her as she worked. When she finished, she leaned back, their faces just inches apart. The air between them was thick with something she couldn't quite name—part tension, part something softer that made her heart race.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked quietly. "Helping me. After everything you've heard about me, after everything I've done."
Elara looked into his steel-gray eyes, seeing the pain and doubt hidden there. "Because I know what it's like to lose someone you love. Because I believe that people can change, that they can fight for something better even if they've made mistakes."
"I've done more than make mistakes," he said, his voice rough. "I've hurt people. I've killed people. I built my empire with blood and fear—same as Thorne did. The only difference is what I'm using it for now."
"Then that's the difference that matters." She reached out and touched his cheek, her fingers tracing the scar that cut across his jaw. "You're not the monster everyone thinks you are, Kael. I know that now."
He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, the cold wall he usually kept up was gone, revealing the man underneath. "I don't know how to be anything else," he whispered.
"You don't have to be alone," she said softly.
Before either of them could say more, there was a knock on the door.
Kael was on his feet in an instant, his hand on his gun as he moved to the window. He peered through the curtains, then relaxed slightly, though he didn't take his hand off his weapon.
"It's Lena," he said, opening the door.
The young woman stepped inside, her clothes wet from the fog, her dark hair plastered to her forehead. She looked exhausted, but her eyes were bright with determination.
"Sorry to bother you," she said, looking from Kael to Elara. "I had to make sure you were both okay. Thorne's men are searching every road out of the city, but they won't find this place."
"Thank you for your help tonight," Elara said, moving forward to offer her a cup of coffee. "We couldn't have done it without you."
Lena took the cup with a small smile. "I owed him," she said, nodding at Kael. "He saved my life when Thorne's men came after me. It was the least I could do."
She took a sip of coffee, then set the cup down. "I also brought you this." She pulled out a small USB drive from her pocket. "I managed to copy the footage before Thorne's men found the device. Just in case something happened to the server."
Kael took the drive, his expression serious. "Thank you, Lena. You've done more than enough."
"I should go," she said, standing up. "If I stay too long, they might track me here. I'll keep an eye on things in the city and let you know when it's safe to come back."
Kael walked her to the door, speaking quietly with her for a moment before she left. When he returned to the main room, he was holding his phone.
"I just got word from my men," he said, sitting down beside Elara. "The national news outlets have already picked up the story. They're running it first thing tomorrow morning."
Elara felt a wave of relief wash over her. "So it's over? Thorne and his men will be arrested?"
"Not yet." Kael's jaw was tight. "Thorne has too much power. He'll try to spin this, claim it's all lies. We need to be ready for him to fight back."
"Then we fight back harder." Elara took his hand, her fingers intertwining with his. "We're in this together now, remember?"
Kael looked down at their joined hands, then up at her. For the first time since she'd met him, she saw a real smile touch his lips—not cold or calculating, but warm and genuine.
"Together," he repeated.
As the fire crackled and the fog pressed against the windows, Elara knew that their fight wasn't over. But for the first time since she'd started chasing this story, she wasn't afraid. Because she wasn't alone anymore.